Psalm 151
(Hebrew)
A Hallelujah of David, Jesse’s son.
1
I was the smallest of my brothers, the youngest of my father’s sons.
He made me shepherd of his flock, ruler over their young.
2
My hands made a flute, my fingers a lyre.
Let me give glory to the Lord, I thought to myself.
3
The mountains cannot witness to God;
the hills cannot proclaim him. But the trees have cherished
my words,
the flocks my deeds.
4
Who can proclaim,
who can announce,
who can declare the Lord’s deeds?
God has seen everything; God has heard everything; God has listened.
5
God sent his prophet to anoint me; Samuel to make me great.
My brothers went out to meet him, handsome in form and appearance:
6
Their stature tall, their hair beautiful, but the Lord God did not choose them.
7
Instead, he sent and took me from following the flock.
God anointed me with holy oil;
God made me leader for his people, ruler over the children
of his covenant.
(Hebrew and Syriac)
At the beginning of David’s power after the prophet of God anointed him.
1
I went out to attack the Philistine, who cursed me by his idols.
2
But after I uncovered his own sword, I cut off his head.
So I removed the shame from the Israelites.
(Greek)
This additional psalm is said to have been written by David when he fought Goliath in single combat.
1
I was small among my brothers, and the youngest of my father’s sons. I was shepherd of my father’s sheep.
2
My hands made a musical instrument; my fingers strung a lap harp.
3
Who will tell my Lord?
The Lord himself, the Lord hears me.
4
The Lord himself sent his messenger, and took me away
from my father’s sheep.
He put special oil on my forehead
to anoint me.
5
My brothers were good-looking and tall, but the Lord didn’t take
special pleasure in them.
6
I went out to meet the Philistine, who cursed me by his idols.
7
But I took his own sword out of its sheath and cut off his head.
So I removed the shame
from the Israelites.